Palestinian official: Israel may attack Gaza to undermine peace plan

GAZA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erikat said on Monday that Israel may wage a war on the Hamas- ruled Gaza Strip to foil an expected peace plan of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would attack Gaza if Kerry is going to propose a practical peace plan that is based on international law, Erikat told Xinhua.

"This is a possible reaction to avoid signing a peace deal," Erikat said.

He added Israel's recent threats against Gaza are very dangerous, urging the international community to take what Israel is preparing for into consideration.

On Kerry's peace plan that is expected to be proposed soon, Erikat said the Palestinian side has not received anything from the Americans so far.

The U.S.-sponsored peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis resumed last July and are set to end in April.

However, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have said on various occasions that no tangible progress had been achieved in the process.

Cross-border violence between Israel and Gaza militants has escalated recently, raising fears of a possible collapse of a one- year shaky cease-fire brokered by Egypt.

"Our counter-terrorism policy can be summed up in one sentence: whoever attacks us, or intends to attack us, will bear the consequences," Netanyahu said at the outset of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.